West Bengal · Districts
District-wise population of West Bengal
West Bengal has 23 districts today. North 24 Parganas is the most populous, estimated at ≈1.09 crore in 2026. Census 2011 figures are shown on each district's current boundaries, so districts created after 2011 have comparable numbers too.
| # | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North 24 Parganas | ≈ 1.09 crore | 1,00,09,781 | +12.0% | 955 | 84.1% | 57.3% | 2,445 |
| 2 | South 24 Parganas | ≈ 92.31 lakh | 81,61,961 | +18.2% | 956 | 77.5% | 25.6% | 819 |
| 3 | Murshidabad | ≈ 81.83 lakh | 71,03,807 | +21.1% | 958 | 66.6% | 19.7% | 1,334 |
| 4 | Hooghly | ≈ 58.92 lakh | 55,17,734 | +9.5% | 961 | 81.8% | 38.6% | ≈1,753 |
| 5 | Nadia | ≈ 56.24 lakh | 51,69,011 | +12.2% | 947 | 75.0% | 27.8% | ≈1,316 |
| 6 | Purba Medinipur | ≈ 56.6 lakh | 50,95,875 | +15.4% | 938 | 87.0% | 11.6% | 1,081 |
| 7 | Howrah | ≈ 53.22 lakh | 48,50,029 | +13.5% | 939 | 83.3% | 63.4% | 3,306 |
| 8 | Paschim Medinipur | ≈ 53.22 lakh | 48,38,621 | +13.9% | 964 | 79.8% | 14.8% | ≈650 |
| 9 | Purba Bardhaman | ≈ 52.51 lakh | 48,35,532 | +11.9% | 958 | 74.8% | 15.0% | ≈777 |
| 10 | Kolkata | ≈ 44.31 lakh | 44,96,694 | −1.7% | 908 | 86.3% | 100.0% | 24,306 |
| 11 | Malda | ≈ 45.99 lakh | 39,88,845 | +21.2% | 944 | 61.7% | 13.6% | 1,069 |
| 12 | Bankura | ≈ 39.25 lakh | 35,96,674 | +12.7% | 957 | 70.3% | 8.3% | 523 |
| 13 | Birbhum | ≈ 39.1 lakh | 35,02,404 | +16.2% | 956 | 70.7% | 12.8% | 771 |
| 14 | Uttar Dinajpur | ≈ 35 lakh | 29,99,808 | +23.2% | 939 | 59.1% | 12.1% | ≈958 |
| 15 | Purulia | ≈ 32.58 lakh | 29,30,115 | +15.5% | 957 | 64.5% | 12.7% | 468 |
| 16 | Paschim Bardhaman | ≈ 31.29 lakh | 28,82,031 | +11.9% | 924 | 78.6% | 81.6% | ≈3,589 |
| 17 | Cooch Behar | ≈ 30.98 lakh | 28,19,086 | +13.7% | 942 | 74.8% | 10.3% | 832 |
| 18 | Jalpaiguri | ≈ 26.2 lakh | 23,81,596 | +13.9% | 956 | 73.4% | 31.6% | ≈660 |
| 19 | Dakshin Dinajpur | ≈ 18.24 lakh | 16,83,602 | +11.6% | 955 | 72.7% | 14.0% | ≈756 |
| 20 | Darjeeling | ≈ 17.65 lakh | 15,95,181 | +14.8% | 972 | 79.2% | 42.1% | ≈614 |
| 21 | Alipurduar | ≈ 16.4 lakh | 14,91,250 | +13.9% | 948 | 73.0% | 20.6% | ≈569 |
| 22 | Jhargram | ≈ 11.82 lakh | 10,74,836 | +13.9% | 976 | 69.9% | 0.5% | ≈557 |
| 23 | Kalimpong | ≈ 2.78 lakh | 2,51,642 | +14.8% | 959 | 81.7% | 22.3% | ≈458 |
* 2026: our estimates (method M1), constrained to the official West Bengal projection. ≈ density uses an area apportioned from 2011 sub-districts.
Districts of West Bengal by population, 2026
- North 24 Parganas 1.09 crore
- South 24 Parganas 92.31 lakh
- Murshidabad 81.83 lakh
- Hooghly 58.92 lakh
- Nadia 56.24 lakh
- Purba Medinipur 56.6 lakh
- Howrah 53.22 lakh
- Paschim Medinipur 53.22 lakh
- Purba Bardhaman 52.51 lakh
- Kolkata 44.31 lakh
- Malda 45.99 lakh
- Bankura 39.25 lakh
- Birbhum 39.1 lakh
- Uttar Dinajpur 35 lakh
- Purulia 32.58 lakh
- Paschim Bardhaman 31.29 lakh
- Cooch Behar 30.98 lakh
- Jalpaiguri 26.2 lakh
- Dakshin Dinajpur 18.24 lakh
- Darjeeling 17.65 lakh
- Alipurduar 16.4 lakh
- Jhargram 11.82 lakh
- Kalimpong 2.78 lakh
Frequently asked questions
How many districts are there in West Bengal?
23, according to the Local Government Directory (23 listed). Census 2011 had fewer in several states; this page shows every current district.
Which district of West Bengal has the highest population?
North 24 Parganas, with 1,00,09,781 people in Census 2011 and an estimated ≈1.09 crore in 2026. The smallest is Kalimpong (2,51,642 in 2011).
Sources and method
- Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (ORGI)
- Census 2011 village and town population figures (ORGI)
- How 2011 figures are rebuilt on today’s district boundaries
- Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011–2036 (July 2020)
- Our estimation method M1 (formulas and checks)
- Local Government Directory (current district boundaries)
Data updated: · Report a correction